Are Nano Particles Safe?

Nanotechnology has become common in skincare products.  It enables active ingredients to be transported through the outer layers of the skin to deeper layers where they can be more effective. However, there are concerns about whether nanotechnology is safe.

Scientists are not sure what happens to nanoparticles after they have done their job.  Do they lodge in organs of the body?  Will they cause trouble when enough of them accumulate?

Safety questions extend beyond the presence of nanoparticles in personal care products. How safe is it to work in a plant that processes them, for instance?  Do they adversely affect the environment? How would we know if this was happening?

These are not easy questions to answer.

“Research into the safety of nanotechnology combines biology, chemistry, and physics with workplace hygiene, materials science, and engineering to create a truly interdisciplinary research field,” explain Krug and Wick. “There are several factors to take into account in the interaction of nano-objects with organisms,” they add. “The term nanotoxicology is fully justified.”  Science Daily

These concerns have caused increased scrutiny and regulation in Europe.  The US may follow suit.  In the meantime, you might want to look out for “nano” or “fine” or “ultrafine” ingredients in the products you use. Those are indications that the product contains nanoparticles, for better or worse.


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